The devils wanted a lesson, and ye gar'd them read one wi' a vengeance!" During this speech, which was uttered in a series of interjections, we had made our supper, and drawn back to the fire.

The shepherd had tumbled into his blankets, and was snoring.

The old man, having cleared away the things, came and sat down beside us.

The present of a fig of tobacco won his heart utterly, and he, having cut up a pipeful, began talking again.
"Why," said he, "it's the real Barret's twist--the very real article! Eh, master, ye're book-learned: do you ken where this grows?
It must be a fine country to bring up such backer as this; some o' they Palm Isles, I reckon." "Virginia," I told him, "or Carolina, one of the finest countries in the world where they hold slaves." "Ah," said he, "they couldn't get white men to mess with backer and such in a hot country, and in course every one knows that blacks won't work till they're made.

That's why they bothers themselves with 'em, I reckon.